Block printing machine and method of printing



April 29, 1930.

V W. P. BRINTON BLOCK PRINTING MACHINE AND METHOD OF PRINTING Filed Jan.17, 1928 8 Sheets-Sheet l April 29, 1930. w. P. BRINTON 1,756,177

BLOCK PRINTING MACHINE AND METHOD OF PRINTING Filed Jan. 17, 1928 8$heeis$heet 2 April 29, 1930.

W. P. BRINTQN BLQCK PRINTING MACHINE AND METHOD OF PRINTING 8Sheets-Sheet Filed Jan. 17

INVENTOR April 29, 1930. w. P, BRINTON ,75 ,17

. BLOCK PRINTING MACHINE AND METHbD OF PRINTING Filed Jan. 17, 1928 8Sheets-Sheet 4 April 29, 1930. w. P. BRINTON ,1

BLOCK PRINTING MACHINE AND METHOD OF PRINTING Filed Jan. 1'7, 1928 8Sheets-Sheet 5 INVENTOR April 29, 1930. w. P. BRINTON BLOCK PRINTINGMACHINE AND METHOD OF PRINTING 7 Filed Ja n. 17, 1928 W 8 Sheets-Sheet 6[MWMWM A. N W II W/W E K mm x w 6 INVENTOR 79 mm April 29, 1930. w. P.BRINTON BLOCK PRINTING MACHINE AND METHOD OF PRINTING Filed Jan. 17 19288 Sheets-Sheet 7 INVENTOR 7 April 1930- w. P. BRl-NTON 1,756,177

BLOCK PRINTING MACHINE AND METHOD OF PRINTING Filed Jan. 17, 1928 8Sheets-Sheet 8 INVENTOR gjwzjm Patented A r. 29,1930

, WILLIAM rnnn-nnmron, [or LANCASTER, PENNSYLVANIA, Assad-Non Tonnivisrnone norm GOMPANYjOFPITTSBUiRG-H, PEIJNSYIJVANIA, Aconronarion-onrnnnsr i- Vanni BLOCK PRINTING IIIACHIIIE AND METHOD ,OFPRINTIIXIG Application fileflylanuary 17, 15328. Serial No. 247,319, A

, This invention relates .to the art of printing fioor coverings,such aslinoleum and felt base goods, and is for faniniprovement invniaintermittently advanced-under the series of printing heads, andthelowering-0f the heads is selectively controlled so as to V procure thedesired sequencefof operation in order to re= produce {the desiredpattern. ,According to the},;present usual practice the art, each headcarries a single printing block "which prints any one-{color in'thepattern of the rug or piece .ofgoods fheingf'printed, Since each i headcarri'es only; one :block, and thatblock is capable of printing onlyjonecolor, zit, will be s h t in produ ng a -is e Pa e n in 7 severalcolors, it is necessary to use a series borderandfijeld, land oneiormore medallions,

of -complementary blocks. In the-printing of a rug, for -instance,=where1n there is across :it is necessary to haven set-oi blocksfor each, color in the cross border, anotherset of blocks :for the,fielchpandpossibly, although not; neeessa-rilyysa Seliyd'fcomplementary blocks :for the medallion. Greater flexibility issometimes secured-by using I dividedv color boxes, wherebydifierentportions ofthe same lock will print di'fierent colors at the same time,but Without any selection, all i portions of :they block-printingat thesame time;

- Because of the number of blocks required in the printing of arug, thevarietyzof colors which cairbe used is igr atlyr duee or the :i'easeni-tliat th mbero bloc is lim d by he numbe .ofip int -ng "h d n th m shini the num e ni e er i in d ,the pattern must zbe'yery sine-p le. T /hepresentinvention provides a method and mach n :bZY which 'i igle r, fieb .,ity is obtained ,in the printing of floor leovthe invention securinga: greater va- .the invention and in which riety of colors and a widerrange of possible patterns, together with lessreg-nlarity in the.

repeat thanhasheretofore been considered possible in block printingmachines and without increasing the number of printingheads.

In the present invention 1 provide a plurality of individuallyselectively operable printing blocks on a single cr'osshe'adwhereby'th'e separate blocks on the heads may be selectively moved intoprinting position, so

that when the printing head drops to print ingposition any selected oneor more of the individual blocks will print while the remainingblo'ckson the head will not print, and preferably, will not receive'fpaint. Theinvention contemplates the division of the available printing area of aprinting head either longitudinally or transversely ofthe head, or both,into any desired number of ndividual. printing blocks. lhe inventionfurther contemplates the provision'of a machine wherein some of theprinting heads may havebutone single block, while other printing heads:may have a plurality of blocks, or a machine wherein all ofthe printing heads have aplurality of separate blocks. Furthermore, the lnventionprovides a vInachine wherein divided color boxes may be used incombination withprintlng heads having a plurality of individualselectively operableprinting blocks so as to secure an even Widervariation of the pattern and color co1n-' binations obtainable.

The invention also provides-a new method in the art of printing floorcoverings in'that heretofore only a single. pattern could be printedonthe floor covering at a given prints ling station orhead, whereas,with the present invention, selectively diiierent patterns maybe'printed at one station on successive sec.- iilOIlS of material.

The invention may be readily understood reference to. the accompanyingdrawings which serve to illnstrate one embodiment of Figure 1 is aschematic plan view showing of a printing machine with variousarrangements ofprinting' blocks, and with divided and undivided.colorjboxes, the purpose oi a plurality of printing heads andcolorbox'es V this view being merely to show generally some of thevariations which are obtainable in the present invention; v

Figure 2 is a side elevation of a portion oft a block printing machineembodying one form of the present invention;

Figure 3 is a detail endview of one of the end of one of the printingheads, showing V printing head and length of piece goods, il-

one of the individual printing blocks on the head in printing positionwith another block out of printing position;

Figure 6 is a diagrammatic view illustrating a rug printed in variouscolors according to the present invention;

Figure 1s a schematic view showing a lustrating the application of thepresent invention tothe printing of scattered designs through alength ofpiece goods; and

Figure 8 is a schematic view or ancther type of mechanism-for operatingone of the individual printing blocks on a cross head.

The nature of my invention may be best understood by reference toFigures 1 and 2.

. In Figure 2'there is shown a side view of the usual type of blockprinting machines having a frame 2 with spaced apart upright frames 3thereon. The frames 3 carry vertically movable supports 4: for raisingand lowering the printing heads carried at the top thereof, theseprinting heads being designated 5, 6, 7, 8 and 9. Thebed of themachineis located at 10, and the material to be printed isintermittently advanced along this bed in uniform steps or sections.spacing of the printing heads is equal to the width of the printingheads so that as tne material advances, a given section is alternatelylocated under a head and then under a space between. the heads.

In the arrangement shown in Figure 2, heads 5 and 9 areof'the usualconstruction, raving but single printing block 5 and 9 respectivelysecured thereto. The printing 7 blocks 5 and 9 are coextensive with thelength and width of the head'and have no relative movement on the head.

In Figure 2 heads 6, 7 and 8 are provided with a plurality ofindividually movable printing blocks with a mechanism for selectivelyeffecting the movement of the desired blocks on the head intoand out ofprinting position. I

he color carriagesior boxes for applying the paint to the printingblocks aredesignated 11. Each printing head is provided with a cam 11for raislng 1t, and the cams The controlling the downward movement ofthe head. When a hold-out latch mechanism for a given head is inreleased position the head is free to lower into contact with thematerial to be printed upon and thereby print'upon the goods. If thelatch mechanism is in holding position, the, head cannot drop andtherefore it will not print upon the material. By controlling thehold-out latches, selective printing of the various heads is secured.

This selective operation of the hold-out latches iswell known andgenerally used in the operationof block printing machines.

In Figure 1. I- have illustrated the arrangement of the printing blocksand the color boxes apart from operating mechanism therefor, this viewbeing a diagrammatic or schematic showing. In this view there is shown'a printing head 13 having a single printing block. Cooperating-withthis head 13 is a color box 14 which is co-extensive with the width ofthe printing block 18. At 15 is a second printing head'having twoseparate printing blocks 16 and 17; either of which'may be selectivelyoperated, as hereinafter described. This block cooperates with a colorbox 18 that is divided in the middle to provide separate colors for theblocks 16and'1'7. The printing head which is located at 19 hasthreeindividual'sections, 19 19 and 19. A correspondingly divided colorbox for cooperation with this head is indicated at 20. The printing headat 21 has two separate .blocks 21 and 21". These blocks are coextensivewith the lengthof the printing head and are not dividedtransversely. Thecolor box 22'is provided for this head. At 23 is another printing headhaving'individual printing blocks23 28 23 and 23, the printing area ofthe head being divided both longitudinally and transversely. I haveshown a'divided color box '24 for cooperation with this head. At 25 isanother head having six separate printing blocks thereon, 25, 25", 25,25 25 and 25. A color box 26 divided into three compartments is shownfor cooperation with this head although, of course,'it need not be sodivided. There are also six printing blocks in the head 27, butthe'blo-cks 27. 27, 27

and 27 arelonger than the blocks 27 and V 'tion,'and shows thepossibility of using divided'color boxes in combination with theprinting heads having a plurality of individually movable printingblocks thereon. This drawing brings; out the idea that the printing areafor some. of the headsmay be divided transversely, longitudinally, orboth ways, and thatheads having the printed area divided may, ifdesired, beusedin combina j tion with other heads whoseprintingarea isnot divided or in combination with heads Whose printing area isdifferently divided.

Figure 1 is intendedtoshow some of. the variations'andmodifications, andthe flexibility obtainable with the present invention;

I One particular construction and operating 1 means for the printingblocks on the head may now'jbe described.

This construction andoperation may best understood by reference toFigures 3, 4, 5,

and 6. In these figures there is shown'indetail,,any one,ofthe heads 6,Tor 8 of Figure; 2p Referringt-o these figures, the linoleum or. floorcovering materialto be printed upon, designated-A, is moved along overthe bed 10 of themachinef, being supported onza pad. 30.

" T e m vem n :Qf emater s e c ed by i means of gall," endless belt 31having pins-32 that pass, through {the edge;of the mate s i The-printinghead, which; is carried ontne vertically reciprocal post 4 at eachsideofthe, machine is ordinarily comprisedof I-beams J 33 isuitablytrussed.and ibraced. The heads,

are adjustably and removablycarriedon the verticallypmovable post 4 inamanner well; understood in the art. "Depending-from the fr f heicre he e:a p urali y f blockpads, the number ofpadsand the size of V the padsdepending .on the manner in. which the available printing area 'ofthe.head is to adjustments forv the printing block can be made by settingthe-cam followers up or down.

by reason of the threadedconnection. Surrounding each of the posts36 1sa compression spring 40 that-is confined between a pin 41 on therod36-and the lower part of the frame 37, the function of. thespringsg40beingto raise the pads 34. In Figure 5 one ofthe pads34 is shown inajdepressedposition..t The pad thus depressed-will, at the proper time,T

receive paintrfromthe paint carriage and will thereafterprint onthematerial A,whi le j I the other padwill not receive pamt'and w llnotprintt The. 0therfpad 34 inFlgure, 5 1s showninthe normal positiontowhich it is returned, aifterf be'ing depressed, by j the ;.springs40.;

As above stated,theactuation of the cams *;and46i serves to selectivelydepress the printing blocks. When theselected blocks are; thus depressedbelow the normalplanef to-which; they are urged by the springs 40they-are in position to receive paint at the proper time in theoperationof} the machine.

Animportantadvantage of the invention; is. that the camsaccuratelydetermine the paintreceiving position of the blocks. One ofthe important duties of the operator in setting upa block -printing.machineis the shim ming of the blocks so that theyallreceive I paint.Shimsgraduated in thousandths of an inch areemployed so astoaccurately-position the blocks with respect to the paint roll. Thevarious blocks must be accurately ad justed so as totake suflicientpaintfrom the 1 V paint roll and still not go so close that the roll willknockcanypegsfrom the printing block ,Since thecams provide positiveback ing and positioning for the several printing blocks when .in, paintreceiving position, the

)nicety of adjustment required may be'seej,

cu'redand indefinitely.maintained.

Located at each end of the frame of-the head is a bearing supportonwhich are carried split bearingsr43 and 44. The split bear-Q.

ing 43 supports ;a cam shaft 45 and thesplit r bearing'44 supports a camshaft 46. The cam -shafts 45 and 46 are supportedinterme di ate the endsof the head in split bearings 47 as shown in F igurefr. Theshaft45carries a a pair of} cams, 45?: andother .cams 45 the 2 number-' of camsbeing determinedbytne number of individual printing block sections onthe head. The shaft; 46 carries similar,

.cams46 As the cam shafts 45 and 46 re,

volve, thecamscarried thereon are rotated.,.i

According to peand.diSPOsition of the.

cams on the shafts 45 and46, one or more of 1 the printing blocks 35will" be depressed at one time while theothe'r printing blocks onthehead will remain in normal position. i

v .The cam shafts 4 5' must be. intermittently rotated andtheir-rotation must be synchonized-gwith referenceto the'operationof thehead on which they are carried and with reference to the rest of themachine. Theymust I also be rotated; at a time whenthe rotation willnotinterfere with the operation ofprinting, themovement of the color boxesunder.

the head, or at time when the block which. is to print is receivingcolor from a" colorboX.

It is xthereforedesirable to rotate the shafts 45 one step. at-La timeupon each lifting iorffl' 1 7 raising movement of the head." i Theinter-- mittent orstep. by step rotation of the sh afts v I 45 mustbeanismq j ,7 In Figuresfi, 4 and 5', there'is'disclosed a mechanism foreffecting this rotation mechanically from the raising and loweringmovement of the headi In the construction shown in Figures 5, thereismounted at one accomplished by a suitable mec h end of the head only, asupporting plate 50. Supported in bearings on the bearing su port 42and-in the plate is a shaft 51'. v n the outere'nd of the shaft 51-is 'adisk 52 having pins. 5.3 projecting from the-side face thereof. -Thepins 53 are preferably equally spaced. Carried-on the shaft 51 is aratchet whee1'54. "Supported on the plate 50 is apawl-55 cooperatingwith the ratchet 5d for preventing reverse movementof the shaft 51.

Secured to the shaft 51 is a spur gear 56. Mountedion the shaft l5 is agear 57 that mesheswiththe spur gear56. Supported on the bearing support42 is an idler gear 58.

The idler gear 58 meshes witha'gearwheel 61 is preferably connected tothe lever 60 through an adjustable eccentric pin 64. -By adjusting theposition of the eccentric pin '6 lthe effective length of the link 61can'be' varied to an of the pin. 7

Pivotally connected to the lever;60 between" its ends'is'a drop link 65having apin" 66-at its lower end. The pin 66 passes through the end of1a lever 67 pivotallysecuredto the extent equal toithe eccentricitysupport 50 at 68. The pin 66 carries avertically extending hook member69. The hook memberj69'- has a hook 70 at its outer end, which hook isinclined at 71 to ride past the pins 53 on the disk 52 when the hookrides.

upwardly'with respect to the disk-52. The

hook 7 Ois adapted to engage one of, the pins 53 when the hook member 69ismoved downwardly relative to the disk 52.

The operation of this portion of the mech anism' may now be understood.When :the

head isfat the uppermost limit of its travel the parts are in theposition shownin Figure et. When the head moves down, the lever 60 isheld stationaryby the link 61'. The shaft 51, and the wheel 52 with itspins 53 of course move down with the head. During this downward movementof the head, the inclined surface 71 of the book 7 0 comes into contactwith one of the pins'53on the disk 52, and throws the hook member 69 outwardly. When the head has reached its lowermost position, the parts areintheposition shown in Figure 3. Uponupward movement .of'the head, thehook 70 of the hook member 69'engages one of the pins 53, and asthe-head continues to rise, carrying the disk 52 up with "it, the hookrotates the' diski 52 a distance'equalto the spacing between the pins.

,The' rotation of the disk 52 isti'mpa'rtedi tothe "shaft- 51 whichin'turn rotates the gear The particular mechanism forrotating thecamshafts as herein specifically described, forms no part of my presentinvention,'being the subject matter for an application for patent ofHarry A. \"Jebster, Serial-No. 278,811,

1 filed May 18,- 1928, and is merely described herein as showing onemechanism contemplated by my invention for effecting relative movementof the individual printing blocks on the head. i r

In place of this mechanism, which is highly practical, any othersuitable mechanism may be used. For instance,'the operation of theindividual blocks might be effected through anelectrical arrangement, asdisclosed in Figure 8, which is diagrammatic,

and wherein the printing head is designated 72 and 7 2 is one of thepads carried thereon.

Oneof the printing block members 72 is carried on the pad 72. Instead ofcam shafts extending continuously :acrossthe length of the head,the reisprovided a torque m0t0r7 3 for each block on the head. Thetorquemotor73drives a segment gear '74.

Movement-of the segment gear 7 4C transmits motion through a link 75 tolevers 76 pivotally supported at 77 on the frame of the head. The levers76 transmit motiontothe lever arms 78 which bear against a yoke 79 rigidly connected to the'pad' 71. The pad is suspended from the frame bymeans of-bolts 80 passingthrough a bedmember 81 form-; ing a part of thehead, these bolts being s'urrounded by compression springs 82. WVhen ionthe torque m'otor is energized it'rocks the lever 7 6," and the leverarms 78 force the yoke 79 down, thereby depressing the block 7 2,andcompressing the springs 82. When the motor 73 is deenergized theparts return to the normal positionshown in Figure 8. Energization ofthe motors 73 at the proper intervals may be controlled by any suitableselector synchronized with-the operation of the printing machine.

In Figure 8 I have shown one selector which maybe employed. The selectorcomprisesa disk 83 driven through a gear 84: from one of the operatingshafts of the machine. The disk 83 carries a wiper 85. As the disk 83'rotates the wiper 85 passes succes'sively"over'contacts 86 arranged inits path of travel. A separate switch 87 is provided for opening thecircuit to each contact. All of the contacts 86 with their'switches 87are connected to a wire 88 leading to one side of the torque' motor 73.The other side 1 of the, motor is connected with a source of 7operation. 7

representing the v width of the available when? from the source of powerto the wiper '85 is completed through a Wire 91' and 'slipring contact92. y Q j,

Such a selector wouldbef provided'tor each one of the torquemotorscarried on a head and therewould be as many of these motors and theirassociatedrnechanisms' as there are individualv printing blocks on asingle head. By setting theswitches 87' ,Qthe

' operation of the'mo'tor' 73 can be selectively controlled tosecure the'desi'red'sequence of used in printing the rug pattern'shown. The irugshown in Figure 61s comprlsed of eight sections,a, Z), 0, cl,'e,-f, gand h, each section printing area of ahead-in the printing ma- I chine.Theend sections a' and h carry the cross border pattern and everysection c'ar- V ries a portion: of the side border pattern] 'tions.Sections 0 and f are divided into six An examination-of the dot anddashlines of section a shows that it is divided longitudinally along-itscenter, and atone side transversely along the lines 'j'and In, so thatits area may be considered as being comprised of four sub-sections. Aseparate block'or aseparate set of blocks is necessary for printing thepattern in each sub-section. Section 6 is divided into but threesub-secsub-sections,and each of them contains the same pattern. Sections(Z and e are divided into six sub-sections, and are ust alike. Sec-'tion 9 is just likesection 6, being comprised of only three sectionsiSection h is similar to sectiona with the exception that the patternsare reversed.

Therug shown inFigur'e 6, in addition to having side and cross borders,is printed with various patterns in the field thereof. The fieldpatternsare shown as being symmetrically :arranged, the patterns on each side ofthe mid portion of the rug being .the'saine. In the upper left handcorner of the rugthere is-a field pattern 100, which fallswithin sectionact the rug and insections d and e are like patterns 101 and 102.

In the upper'right hand corner-thereis a. field pattern 103.Thefieldpatterns 100 and A 103.ca'ch constitute half of the fieldpatterns 101 and 102'. sections h andg' of the rug above the centerportion thereof are: patterns -104; In thesectionsfc' and for the rugabove the central portion-are field patterns 105.

The patter'ns 104 printed in two colors, orange and purple, and thepatterns 105 con- ,stitute the purple portions only of the pat- 1rel-11's 10:4. w y r v .In the central portion of the rug in' thesection a there is a field pattern 106 printed "in 'four colors, green,blue, yellow and red.

In addition to the crossfhatching, initial-let ters have been used todesignate the colors.

In thesection h of the rug there is a 'field' pattern 108. which issimilar to pattern 106 oa'nd f of the rug in the central portionare likepatterns 107. The 1 patterns 107 are -it'orrned-by placing the patterns106 and108 together, but the color blue is omitted in patterns"107.' "Inthe central portions of sections 1. and e are like, patterns 109 formedof the red and yellow portions of patterns 106 and 108. The patternsin'the lower portionof the rug correspond to those in the upper portion.1

{For printing the rug shown in Figure 6 there would'be one set ofheads-for printing the cross" borders, and one set of heads for printingthe'field patterns. Allof the blocks tor printing the cross borderswould be containedon one set of heads. For instance, one

head would have the ,printingarea thereof dividedlinto individualprinting blocks which ,abut is just thereverse thereof. In sections vwould print the purple in the cross border,

' the blocks of the head being arranged like the blocks 21? and 21 ofthe'head21 in Figure 1. This head would lower twice during the {mint;ing of a single rug to printing position, but on onedip just theblock'for printing the cross border in the section a would be projecteddown to receive paint and to print while the block for printing thecross border in the section it would be held out of printing position.

Likewise,a single head would carry two blocks for printing the orange inthe cross borders, and such head would dip twice during the printing oftherug. On the first dip of the block on that head for printing theorange'in the cross border of sectiona would be operated and on the nextdip of the head the'block for printing the orange in the section itwould be operative. Thus a single head serves to alternately print thetwo'patterns merely by rendering one and then the other of the blockscarried thereon alter-- nately operable. If the border blocks were notdivided, as shown, but werethe usual double cross border, blocksordinarily employed, it would be difficult to secure the right spacingof'the borders with'respect to the field where the field, as in'the rugshown, has I a definite number of sections of full width and a halfwidth field section lying along each border. l 1 7 In the printing ofthe field patterns, a single headwould carry a set of printing blocksnecessary for printingonecolor iii-any ofthe patterns 100 101,102,103,106, 107,

108 a11d109.. The heads for printing field patterns in sections a, 0,(Z; 6, f and it can be sections would have siX individually movableprinting blocks thereon. For instance, the

head which prints the color green in any one of these sections will haveSIX lndividually movable printing blocks. Since the color green appearsin the field pattern in sections a, a d, 6, 7 and h, it will be seenthat this head must dip to print in each one of these sections. However,not all of the blocks on the h eadfprint at any one time. ,the threeindividual blocks corresponding to In section a,

25 and25 of head 25 in Figure 1, are in operative position on the firstdip of the head.

This prints in the green portions of the two patterns. 100 and themiddle pattern 106.

* No'green appears in section b so that this head 108'v are printed.

; would not'dip to print in thissection of the rug. In section 0 no partof the pattern 100 is printed, but the green portions 1O6.and

ing green blocks corresponding to blocks 25 were inoperative." Insection (Z of the rug the green is printed in the side portions but notin the middle portion of the rug. On. the

third dipv of the head carrying the blocks for printing in the greenportion of the pattern,

the two central sections corresponding to 25 inoperative while all 01''?the other four sections or blocks would be projected to printingposition.

For printing in. section f the various blocks would aga n shift to printthe same as in section 0; In printing in 590171011 h the threeblockscorresponding to 25 3.25 and 25 of block-25 in Figure 1 would beprojected to printing position while the three blocks corresponding toblocks 25, 25 and 25 would be held inoperative. Likewise a single headwould carry the blocks for printing the red in sections a, (Z, 6 and h.iinother block divided in similar manner would reproduce the I blue inthe field patterns in sections a, (Z, 6 and For printing the patterns10d and an- 7 other setof blocks is required. The head for printing theorange in patterns 104: would be dividedthesame as head 19in Figure .1.

Therefore, on the seconddip of the head carrying the blocks for print-The same would be true inprinting the green n section 6 of the rug.

Another head would carry the six blocks necessary for printing-in theyellow in sectrons a. 0, (1,6, f', and h: 1

controlled by the usual selector mechanism used for controlling theoperation of the printing heads in block printing machines. Theoperation of the individual printing blocks carried on each head wouldbe controlled by rotation of the cam shafts carried on each head and theshapes of the cams. 7

From the foregoing, it becomes apparent that theprinting area of eachhead nay be divided up in various ways into a plurality of individualsections, anyone of which can be selectively rendered operable whileremaining blocks on the same head are held in a non-printing position.This allows for a flexibility and variety of design in a printingmachine having a moderate'number of printing heads farin excess oftheflexibility and variety which could be secured in present types ofprinting machineswith present types of presentmethods'having two orthree times the number of printing heads. The selective use of a givenportion of the area of a printing head to theexclusion of other printingsurfaces on the same head provides for the use of a wide range of colorsand intricate patterns without increasing the number of printing headson the machine, and permits of afwide variation ofgpattern without. arepeat; -The diagram shown in Figure 6 illustrates'only a simplepossibility .in the use'of the present invention. In this view patternsand colors have'been used which could be readily shown and to whichconventional color indication can be applied.

The variationand' fiexibilityof the machine is even further increasedwhere divided color and 25 -ot head 25 in Figure 1 would be held boxesare, used in combination with printing heads having the availableprinting surface divided into a plurality of selectively usable blocks.r

In Figure 7 I have shown the inventionas applied to the printing ofpiece goods, and particularly that type of piece goods'known asarabesque wherein small patterns of unique design are scatteredlwith anappearanceof irregularity over-the surface of the piece goods. r

In this view the piece material is designated 110', and the dot and dashlines 111 showthe sections in which the materialis printed. At 112 thereis indicated'di'agrammatically a printing head or a printing stationwhich is providedwith six selectively' operable printing blocks 113to118 inclusive,

each printing block being provided witha differentpattern: The head11'2;c'arrying the several 'printingblocks 113'to 1'18 inclusive willlower on each sectionof materiah because one of the 'patt'ern'sf113 to1-18 appears on each sectionfiHowever,only one design-is printed witheach dip .of the head. In Figure 7'- the pattern 114 has-just beenprinted. The previous printing of this design is in the sixth precedingsection; Like- Wise eachot the other designs-is printed only i,"756,177V V 7 once in every six sections; Since the width of a section isordinarily eighteen inches, itwill be seen that the pattern onlyrepeatsevery one hundred eight inches. lHeretofore, in

order to secure this result it would have been necessary to have" SlXseparate heads even if the patterns were only printed in one color.

Since the arabesque patterns are generally printed in several colors itwill be seen that accordingto previous methods, it would haverequirednearly all of the printing heads of the present invention thesame result can be achieved with threeheads. r

From the foregoing it will be seen that the g U y 2 rately operableprintin'g surfaces thereon.

invention lends itself to a new method in the printing of rugs or floorcoverings. V Heretoh V I g v *rality of reciprocable prlntmg heads, atleast "one of saicl 'heads having a plurality Qfjsepafore it has beenthe practice to print one pattern, and one pattern only at each printingstation or cross head of the machine. With the present invention it ispossible to ri p I i g n I .tion; of said printing blocks 111t0 and ut:of p l ve position. .1 1

anyone of a number of different patterns at a single printing station.The'number ofpatterns which can be printed at a given stationrality'ofreciprocable printing heads, at least one of the heads" havingthe printing, area thereof provided, with a plurality of independentlymovable pr'inting, blocks, and divided color -boxes coopera'tingwithsome -ot is limited only to the number of separate printing blocks whichit is practical to provide in the area of a given head. Not only is itpossible to selectively utilize any one of the several printing blocksat a givenprinting head or station, but various combinations thereof maybe used. 7 As previously pointed out, the invention also makes itpractical to use only certain colors in a set of blocks for producing agiven pattern in some parts of the rug, and using allot the sets ofblocks to print in all of the colors in a pattern in an- ,another partof the rug. This is due only to the fact that the printing area of eachhead or station is divided into a number of separate selectivelyoperable printing blocks. Coupled with the use of divided color boxes,even wider variations" from present methods of printing can bepracticed.

\Vhile I have shown and describedmy invention in connection withparticular details j of construction and'in combination withparticular'forms of operating mechanisms, it will be understood that theinvention is not confined to any particular construction of parts or toany particular operatingsmechanism. I have also endeavored to showcertain simple instances of the flexibility and novelty of my improvedmethod and apparatus for printing floor coverings, but it will beunderstood that this is merely by way of illustra tion and that widevariations and various invention and under the scope of the followringclaims.

I claim i lQIn block type 'pri'nti'n machine, a guided movable printingheaa mean's for moving the material through the machine in astep-by-step manner, and a printing surface onthe head divi'ded in'twodirections, each partof the printing surface being movable p'jancldOwngto alimited extent on the head relatively-to the other/ I I Ytherewith, and movable toa slight extent up and down relativelythereto,and means for raisingand-lowering the printingbloclr's rela-" tii ely tothe head. 3' In a block type-printing machine, a plurality ofreciprocable printing heads, at'least' one.ofsaid heads havingaplurality of sepa:

4:.' In a'jbloclr type printing machine, a plurately operable printingsurfaces thereon,

and'means on these heads for efiecting opera- '5. I a block typeprintingmachine, a plu those'heads'whose printing area is so divided. I6. In a'block'type printing machine, a plurality of printing heads, someof said print- "ing heads having a single Iprinting block thereomotherof said head's'h avin a plurality of [selectively operable print ngblocks thereon. V

7 In a block type printing machine, a plurality of printingjheads,someof said rintingheads leaving a single printing lock thereon, otherof said heads having a plurality of selectively operable printingblocksthereon, aeolor'box for'each printing head, the color box for atleastoneof the heads, which carries a-plurality of printing blocksbeingdivided'into; a plurality of *co'mpartinents.

' In themethod ofprinting floor cover- :ings in a'block type printingmachine, having ahead, whicli'hea-d has a pluralityof por-' tionsadapted to print in different colors, the

steps consisting in printing all of said colors 'on'a section of thefloor covering, causing relative movementbetween the floor covering andthe head so as tobring another section of the floor covering intoprinting position, and then printing on such section'with the head,

7 at least one color being omitted-on the lastmentioned printing step. 7V V 9. In the method of printing floor coverlngs in a block type printinmachine, having a head'with a plurality of relatively movable r printingportions, the steps consisting I in printing with onezofthe printingportions on a sect ibn otthefioor covering, eausingrelativemovement;betweenthe floor vcovering and the head so asto.bringanother'sectionof the gfioor ,covering into printing. positionand 2 then printing on such section with such printing portion and anadditional printing portion; i.

' .10. Ina bloelntypeprintinginaehine,.a vertically reeiprocableprinting head, pluralir I tylofprintingblocks carried byjthehead, a,paint earriage movable under the; blocks, neans controlling thevertical movementot the printing head; said means beingetfed tive forholding the head in substantially fixed position during movement of thepaint carriage thereunder. and for thereafter per- ;inittingthe head tolower so as to print,.and 1 means for moving it-192118110118 ofthe blocks.

7 into or out ofa position on'the head wherein n it will receive paintwhen the paint carriage moves thereunder and will head .is thereafterlowered.

print when the i .11.. In a block-type printing machine, a if verticallyreciprocable.printing'head, a plurality of printing blocks carried bythehead, i

a paint carriage movable Sunder the blocks,

I paint carriage movable under. said head-for n eans controllingthefvertical movement of the printinghead said means being effective V forholding the head in substantially fixed position duringmovement of thepaint carriage V thereunder and for thereafter permitting the headtolowereso as, to. print, meansformoving atleast oneof the blocks intoorout of a position on the head wherein it will receive paint when thepaint carriage movesthereunder and will print when the head isthereafter lowered, and; means providing a positive backing for saidblock when it isin paint receiving posltlon.

blocks." lying in. a. line extending erosswise of the printingn1achine,,rneanscontrolthe; movement of the, printing head, a

supplying paint .to desired ones of the relativ'ely'movable printingblocks, the paint earriage being divided into oompartments correspondingto the blocks,, and means for efi'fe cting sue-h relative movementwhereby desired printing blocks are brought into paint receivingposition.

. :In testimony vWhereofI have hereunto set Z .my hand.

WlLLIAMl-PENN BRINTON.

. 12. :In a bloek-ype. printing machine, a printing head having aplurality of relative 1y movable printing blocksthereon, said

